Community connection fuels Northland's success in Vodafone Vanua Championship

Northland's impressive run in the Vodafone Vanua Championship is significantly driven by a deep connection to its communities and villages, according to head coach Epeli Kalou. The team recently secured its place in the semi-finals after a hard-fought 23-21 victory against Namosi in a thrilling quarter-final match.

Kalou attributes the team's strong performances throughout the season to the bond forged with the people and land of Tailevu North. "We connected with the land and the people of Tailevu North as this is their team," he stated, highlighting the importance of representing the region.

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We connected with the land and the people of Tailevu North as this is their team.

The coach emphasized that the decision to select players from villages across the district and those already playing for local clubs has been instrumental in strengthening the team's sense of identity. "We made sure to select players from our villages and those that play in their village club, and I believe that opened that door for us and lifted our performance this year as we are all connected," Kalou explained.

With their semi-final berth secured, Northland now shifts its focus to the upcoming matches. The semi-finals for both the Vodafone Vanua and Royal Tea Ranadi Cup are scheduled for next week, Monday. The team aims to continue its dream run in the competition.

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We made sure to select players from our villages and those that play in their village club, and I believe that opened that door for us and lifted our performance this year as we are all connected.